World Cup to use drones to help protect stadiums
July 23, 2022, 12:02 pm

World Cup to use drones to help protect stadiums

FIFA's logo is seen in front of its headquarters during a foggy autumn day in Zurich, Switzerland November 18, 2020. (File photo: Reuters)

Crowd control is one of the biggest challenges facing Qatar at this winter's FIFA World Cup.

Researchers find the solution by the use of cutting-edge technologies including surveillance drones, ICT, and AI to manage an expected 1.5 million visitors expected to flock to the Gulf state for the event in November.

Unmanned aerial vehicles that shoot nets to bring down small "rogue" drones will help defend venues.

Fortem Technologies will provide the interceptor drones, following an agreement with Qatar's interior ministry.

Fortem says its system is a safe way to bring down drones in built-up locations, reducing the risks of injury that might be caused if weapons were used.

“Fortem provides world class technology and services”, says Engineer Captain Rashid Fahad Alali, Security Systems Officer in the Ministry of the Interior in Qatar and the Anti-Drone Program Leader in the SSOC.

Man-to-man marking will be paired with drone v drone security at this winter's Fifa World Cup in Qatar - Photo. Pixabay

“We are pleased to partner with Fortem Technologies as an anchor vendor to enhance our security around Doha.”

For larger drones, a net is launched at the target which is connected to a parachute, slowing the entangled target and forcing it to the ground.

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Fortem chief executive and co-founder Timothy Bean told the BBC that targets are identified using a "series of very small radars that are distributed throughout the venue, creating a complete picture of the airspace straight up into the air.”

The company claims the drones have had "live kills" at various security sites around the world.

But the roar of fans will not be accompanied by the buzz of drones because the machines do their work "a mile or so away from the venue", Mr Bean added.

Alternative systems for stopping drones can rely on interfering with the drone's control signals, but Fortem argues terrorists may launch drones on pre-programmed flight paths.

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"The reason our business is skyrocketing is because terrorists don't use joysticks. Terrorists don't show up in your parking lot with a joystick. These drones are programmed ... so they can't be jammed," Mr Bean says.

The company says it has deployed anti-drone systems at other sporting events and at the World Economic Forum meeting at Davos.

It has donated portable versions of its system to Ukraine, and said it was also working on anti-drone measures for UK airports.

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